I would begin by addressing how students in general benefit from the use of technology in classrooms. Students in modern times grow up with laptops, cell phones, and ipods as a past of everyday life. Students are attracted to technology because using it comes naturally. Also, a lot of technology is associated with entertainment: television, DVDs, online chatting, facebook, music, etc. Teaching with the assistance of items that interest students so much will help them learn. If student interest increases, it is likely the amount of information students retain will increase. with up-to-date technology (like the interactive whiteboard and computers) Technology should be used in lessons to support the UDL. Whether or not teachers personally like using technology is irrelevant. If students seem to be reacting to lessons with technology, the technologic devices should be worked into the curriculum. Utilizing technology in a lesson may benefit some students that have trouble focusing merely on a poem or text. Some teacher may find technology intimidating, especially when students seem more adept with the technology; however, this should not stop educators from trying to work technologic concepts into lessons. Specifically, I would be teaching English to secondary level students. Educators may also shy away from technology based on their subject area. I find English to be one of the hardest subjects to work technology into lessons (that is not to say I would not do my best to incorporate different learning styles into my classroom). Comparing my beliefs at the beginning of the semester to my beliefs now… At the beginning of the semester, I held sentiments about technology similar to those I expressed above. In the beginning, I also mentioned the importance of reaching many different students through learning in an interactive and engaging way. I also wrote down how students learn more when they are captivated by a topic and how technology could increase the level in which students are engaged. I also mentioned that teachers would stay “current” and that technology can reach students of all ages. My beliefs have not changed. ISTC 301 has supported and reinforced my beliefs about technology in educational environments.
Final Reflection
I would begin by addressing how students in general benefit from the use of technology in classrooms. Students in modern times grow up with laptops, cell phones, and ipods as a past of everyday life. Students are attracted to technology because using it comes naturally. Also, a lot of technology is associated with entertainment: television, DVDs, online chatting, facebook, music, etc. Teaching with the assistance of items that interest students so much will help them learn. If student interest increases, it is likely the amount of information students retain will increase. with up-to-date technology (like the interactive whiteboard and computers)
Technology should be used in lessons to support the UDL. Whether or not teachers personally like using technology is irrelevant. If students seem to be reacting to lessons with technology, the technologic devices should be worked into the curriculum. Utilizing technology in a lesson may benefit some students that have trouble focusing merely on a poem or text. Some teacher may find technology intimidating, especially when students seem more adept with the technology; however, this should not stop educators from trying to work technologic concepts into lessons. Specifically, I would be teaching English to secondary level students. Educators may also shy away from technology based on their subject area. I find English to be one of the hardest subjects to work technology into lessons (that is not to say I would not do my best to incorporate different learning styles into my classroom).
Comparing my beliefs at the beginning of the semester to my beliefs now…
At the beginning of the semester, I held sentiments about technology similar to those I expressed above. In the beginning, I also mentioned the importance of reaching many different students through learning in an interactive and engaging way. I also wrote down how students learn more when they are captivated by a topic and how technology could increase the level in which students are engaged. I also mentioned that teachers would stay “current” and that technology can reach students of all ages. My beliefs have not changed. ISTC 301 has supported and reinforced my beliefs about technology in educational environments.